Launched from the yard of William Harkness and Son, Middlesbrough (Yard No 228) on 30th June 1919 as War Char for the Shipping Controller the steel steamship was completed in September 1919 as Whitworth for the Robert Stanley Shipping Co Ltd of Newcastle. She measured 235.4′ x 36.2′ x 15.5′ and her tonnage was 1406 gross tons, 740 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Whitworth Westgarth and Co Ltd., Middlesbrough delivering 144 nominal horse power. In 1929 she was bought by another Newcastle company, the Dalglish Steam Shipping Company and continued to serve these owners till 1936 when she was sold to Estonian owners, Peet Rass of Tallin, who renamed her Uhti. Three years later she was sold back to British owners, the Springfal Shipping Company of London and renamed Springfal. Another change of ownership followed in 1939 when she was purchased by the Gas, Light and Coke Company of London and named Gasray before her final ownership change in 1944 when she was purchased by Williamstown Shipping Co Ltd., London.
Steamship Whitworth under way
Lloyd’s register 1939
On 5th April, 1945 she was en route from Grangemouth to Blyth in ballast when she was attacked by a German Submarine U-2331 commanded by Hans Heinrich Barschkis. The Gasray’s captain was R E Baker he and had a crew of seventeen plus six gunners aboard. The Gasray was hit by a single torpedo and sank quickly with the loss of six of the crew and two gunners. The attack happened at 18:59 that evening in a position noted as two miles north of St Abbs Head. Six of the survivors were picked up by the St Abbs lifeboat and the remainder by the British coaster Clova which was nearby at the time of the attack.
The wreck of the Gasray lies off St Abbs Head and is broken into three sections. The largest section, which is approximately 38 metres long, lies in position 55° 57.064’N, 002° 08.626’W oriented 100°/280° in 64 metes of water. A second large section 28 metres long lies nearby in position 55°57.093’N, 002°08.697’W (WGS84).
